nonameless's review
2.0
I don't know how, but this author managed to make a book about the Holocaust boring.
If you're curious about this book, just skip over it. Read "Someone Named Eva," "Salt to the Sea," or "The Book Thief" instead. Those stories have the right level of maturity, complexity, and respect to competently discuss the horrific events of WWII in a way that is moving, haunting, and taps into visceral emotions about the inhumanity of war.
This story is hardly a story at all. I wish all the parts about the sisters (who, I'm sure in real life were incredibly smart and selfless people) were all cut out. This novel didn't do the real life Cook sisters any justice--they hardly had enough personality to count as characters. I didn't believe that these cardboard, shallow girls were doing all of these things that the author said they were doing. Mild spoiler warning, but someone in Germany asks them a genuine question about if he should escape while he still can, or risk his life helping others. It could've been a great moment for self-reflection for these two women (they could've paused to ask themselves why they kept risking their lives to help strangers), but instead, they just look at each other and then say something along the lines of:
"Um...that's a hard question. We can't answer it for you--maybe pray about it?"
Wow. Such depth. The real Cook sisters deserve better than this.
This book would've been much more interesting had it only contained the summaries about historical events, because summarizing historic events doesn't take much depth. I learned more about the Opera sisters from read the summary than from reading the entire book.
If you're curious about this book, just skip over it. Read "Someone Named Eva," "Salt to the Sea," or "The Book Thief" instead. Those stories have the right level of maturity, complexity, and respect to competently discuss the horrific events of WWII in a way that is moving, haunting, and taps into visceral emotions about the inhumanity of war.
This story is hardly a story at all. I wish all the parts about the sisters (who, I'm sure in real life were incredibly smart and selfless people) were all cut out. This novel didn't do the real life Cook sisters any justice--they hardly had enough personality to count as characters. I didn't believe that these cardboard, shallow girls were doing all of these things that the author said they were doing. Mild spoiler warning, but someone in Germany asks them a genuine question about if he should escape while he still can, or risk his life helping others. It could've been a great moment for self-reflection for these two women (they could've paused to ask themselves why they kept risking their lives to help strangers), but instead, they just look at each other and then say something along the lines of:
"Um...that's a hard question. We can't answer it for you--maybe pray about it?"
Wow. Such depth. The real Cook sisters deserve better than this.
This book would've been much more interesting had it only contained the summaries about historical events, because summarizing historic events doesn't take much depth. I learned more about the Opera sisters from read the summary than from reading the entire book.
thecleanreadbookclub's review
4.0
World War II books for me are in a genre all their own. I always go into them with hesitancy because the events are so incredibly heartbreaking. What drew me to The Opera Sisters by Marianne Monson was the idea of these two sisters putting aside their fears, safety and using ingenuity through uncommon avenues to help so many others.
I love that this was based on a true story and that so many of the historical aspects were well documented throughout the text. It did take me until about 20% to really get a feel for the storyline as the beginning jumps around quite a bit setting up for the later events. After reading this book in it's entirety I really appreciated the set up-so go into this book with that in mind! I think it will help with the experience of this book.
This author was able to condense the entire timeline of WWII throughout the book that made it history rich. There are so many details included that this book felt personal and intimate. Have your tissues handy and know this book will hit you at such a deep level.
If you have read and enjoyed books like A Slow March of Light by Heather B Moore or A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly I think you would really enjoy this one. Content-wise this one is a bit heavier. There is talk of murders, persecution and suicides in this book. There was nothing overly graphic-just that they were happening all across Europe and honestly, if you've read a history book, nothing should come as a surprise but it will impact you emotionally and want to note it.
If you're in the mood for a life changing book, I recommend this one!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
I love that this was based on a true story and that so many of the historical aspects were well documented throughout the text. It did take me until about 20% to really get a feel for the storyline as the beginning jumps around quite a bit setting up for the later events. After reading this book in it's entirety I really appreciated the set up-so go into this book with that in mind! I think it will help with the experience of this book.
This author was able to condense the entire timeline of WWII throughout the book that made it history rich. There are so many details included that this book felt personal and intimate. Have your tissues handy and know this book will hit you at such a deep level.
If you have read and enjoyed books like A Slow March of Light by Heather B Moore or A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly I think you would really enjoy this one. Content-wise this one is a bit heavier. There is talk of murders, persecution and suicides in this book. There was nothing overly graphic-just that they were happening all across Europe and honestly, if you've read a history book, nothing should come as a surprise but it will impact you emotionally and want to note it.
If you're in the mood for a life changing book, I recommend this one!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
insatiablewanderlust's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I enjoyed this book waaaay more than I was expecting. It started off a little dry with a lot of information that was like "yea, doesn't everyone know this?", but as that information continued throughout the book, it became my favorite part. Not even touching the story of Ida and Louise, just the background information that was provided about Hitler and the leadup to WWII was some of the most comprehensive I've ever read, fiction or non-fiction. And I read a lot of WWII historical fiction and non-fiction. It was nice that this information was given alongside Ida and Luise's timeline so you got a full picture of what was happening across Europe, not just the parts that the Cooks were aware of.
That's not to say that I didn't love the Cooks' timeline. I don't really know much about Opera, but that doesn't stop you from appreciating their love of. I also wonder what it was like to be openly working with the Nazi's, but to be secretly working with the resistance/underground. It must have been terrible to be seen as a collaborator by your friends and neighbors without being able to defend yourself. I liked that we got a small glimpse of that through a couple of characters. I'm glad the Cook sisters will have their story told for current and future generations. I hope they both died knowing the impact they had on the people they saved and I hope Ida was able to forgive herself for not savings everyone.
If it's not clear from my review, I would highly recommend this book for lovers of WWII historical fiction or anyone wanting to dip their toes in the genre!
That's not to say that I didn't love the Cooks' timeline. I don't really know much about Opera, but that doesn't stop you from appreciating their love of. I also wonder what it was like to be openly working with the Nazi's, but to be secretly working with the resistance/underground. It must have been terrible to be seen as a collaborator by your friends and neighbors without being able to defend yourself. I liked that we got a small glimpse of that through a couple of characters. I'm glad the Cook sisters will have their story told for current and future generations. I hope they both died knowing the impact they had on the people they saved and I hope Ida was able to forgive herself for not savings everyone.
If it's not clear from my review, I would highly recommend this book for lovers of WWII historical fiction or anyone wanting to dip their toes in the genre!
plantybooklover's review
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I received this book as an arc via NetGalley:
Really nice piece of historical fiction! Probably my favorite piece of historical fiction all year.
The Opera Sisters is a fictionalized story of the real-life Cook sisters, opera aficionados, who meet and rub elbows with some of the greatest opera stars of their time, while aiding and assisting refugees from Nazi Germany.
The author allows us to follow along as the Cook sisters travel to and from areas in Europe for Opera performances and to meet with contacts as they assisted desperate persons to leave Germany. The author intersperses wonderful descriptions of opera between dramatic near misses and joyful reunions. It's really a nice bit of balance throughout the novel. The book was inspiring and hopeful without becoming maudlin- which is a feat in itself when writing about WWII is involved.
Personally, I really did enjoy this book. It was better researched than many works of historical fiction, and really focused on events that related to the sisters and their activity. (in other words, no wild meetings with Hitler that did not occur etc)I was a bit frustrated with the pulling of a Churchill speech that didn't fit into a totally different year/time to suit the story, but I think most readers will overlook that easily. This would be an excellent book for young readers or younger book clubs- there is very little to offend anyone through out the book and it does introduce topics for discussion, while ending on a realistic but positive note.
Really nice piece of historical fiction! Probably my favorite piece of historical fiction all year.
The Opera Sisters is a fictionalized story of the real-life Cook sisters, opera aficionados, who meet and rub elbows with some of the greatest opera stars of their time, while aiding and assisting refugees from Nazi Germany.
The author allows us to follow along as the Cook sisters travel to and from areas in Europe for Opera performances and to meet with contacts as they assisted desperate persons to leave Germany. The author intersperses wonderful descriptions of opera between dramatic near misses and joyful reunions. It's really a nice bit of balance throughout the novel. The book was inspiring and hopeful without becoming maudlin- which is a feat in itself when writing about WWII is involved.
Personally, I really did enjoy this book. It was better researched than many works of historical fiction, and really focused on events that related to the sisters and their activity. (in other words, no wild meetings with Hitler that did not occur etc)I was a bit frustrated with the pulling of a Churchill speech that didn't fit into a totally different year/time to suit the story, but I think most readers will overlook that easily. This would be an excellent book for young readers or younger book clubs- there is very little to offend anyone through out the book and it does introduce topics for discussion, while ending on a realistic but positive note.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Minor: War
ceeemvee's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This historical novel is based on the true story of the Cook sisters, opera lovers who traveled from London to Nazi Germany and smuggled out jewels and furs for those hoping to find a way to England. Two ordinary, unassuming working-class women, Ida and Louise save their money to buy opera tickets. Serendipitously the sisters are introduced to fellow opera lovers, performers and conductors. Through these relationships, the sisters are asked to smuggle valuables out of Germany for those seeking refuge in England, or anywhere but Germany. Quite boldly, the sisters wear the goods by hiding them in plain sight, and keeping them safe until they are reunited with their owners. After travel to continental Europe is halted, the sisters continue to help refugees by obtaining sponsorships and employment. By the end of the war, the sisters were able to help 29 Jewish families escape from Nazi Germany.
My rating is only 3 stars because I had such mixed feelings about the writing. My rating is in no way related to the brave and caring sisters. While I realize it was an historical novel, I felt that some things were changed or embellished without any logical reason. For instance, the speech given by Winston Churchill on Christmas Eve of 1941 is moved to 1940. There is a chapter of the sisters reuniting with one of their dear friends after the war, however, it was a story of someone else, who the author indicates isn’t mentioned in the book. There is a story of Theo, a Polish teen-ager the sisters helped, but we learn in the footnotes this is the story of another Theo, who was not helped by the sisters. However, it does include a lot of historical facts, appears to be well-researched and I did learn some new things. If you care to chill yourself to the bone, watch the short film A Night at the Garden, https://anightatthegarden.com.
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kande0321's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
I liked this book. It took quite a while for me to get into it though. I read about 60 pages before I was invested. There were a lot of names to remember, but I really enjoyed the story. It's not a story I had heard about before, so I enjoyed reading about Ida and Louise.
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